Congratulations to our General Director and CEO Keith Cerny on his Excellence in Community Service Award from the Dallas Historical Society! We are very pleased to share this exciting news and proud that the Historical Society has recognized his hard work, dedication, vision and solid leadership especially now that we celebrate our 60th Season!

The luncheon to honor him and other award winners will take place, Thursday, November 17.

The excitement for our 2016-17 Season continues to grow as we announce our FIRST NIGHT Opening Night events!

Patrons will enjoy “celebrity” treatment with a red carpet entrance to the black tie Pre-Performance Dinner, a spectacular presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin which will be followed by a dazzling After Party with the cast! It all happens on Friday, October 28, 2016!

Patrons will be immersed in the celebrity treatment with a red carpet entrance outside theMargot and Bill Winspear Opera Houseon Friday, October 28, 2016 beginning at 5:30 p.m. A lovely tent in Sammons Park is the setting for the elegant Pre-Performance Dinner which starts at 6:00 p.m. Creative culinary genius Wolfgang Puck will cater the event which is chaired by Matrice Ellis-Kirk and Ambassador Ron Kirk.

The celebrations continue with the FIRST NIGHTAfter Party with the cast from 11:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The dancing and dining with the principal performers of Eugene Onegin is sure to be a highlight of the kick-off events!

The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is located in the heart of the Arts District at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

“Don and I are extremely honored to chair this year’s season opening events. Both of our parents were so deeply involved with the opera, we see this as a way to honor them in addition to the entire opera family who have made the past 60 years possible, said Ellen Winspear.

“Sixty years is a tremendous milestone for The Dallas Opera! The growth of this company, from Maria Callas’ 1957 inaugural concert to current day when we beam our productions around the globe by satellite, is a testimony to the innovation we have experienced and our dedication to ensuring that opera remains appealing and relevant,” added Don Winspear.

“We certainly have much to celebrate as we begin our 60th Season! Not only are we proud to present a diverse group of classic and lesser-known operas this season, but we are honored to reflect on all the success of the previous decades. It is also a unique opportunity to express our thanks to our many dedicated patrons and sponsors who have supported this company throughout the years. It is through their commitment to this magnificent art form that we continue to bring the experience of international caliber opera to North Texas. Please join us!” explains Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO for The Dallas Opera.”

The ambiance of the black-tie Pre-Performance Dinner will be inspired by the opera Eugene Onegin, and catered by Wolfgang Puck. Tables for the dinner range from $25,000 to $7,500 with individual tickets available for $1,000. All dinner tickets include After Party tickets. Please visit www.dallasopera.org/firstnight to purchase tickets.

“Deutsche Bank has always been an engaged partner in support of the arts community in Dallas,” said Mark LaRoe, Head of Dallas Private Bank office Deutsche Bank Wealth Management. “On a personal note, FIRST NIGHT at The Dallas Opera is one of the highlights of the year for Dianne and me.”

In Tchaikovsky’s lush opera, Eugene Onegin, innocence and passion collide. Set in 19th century Russia, a naïve young country girl becomes smitten with an aristocrat, Onegin. Tatyana (soprano Svetlana Aksenova) confesses her love in a letter to the arrogant Onegin (baritone Andrei Bondarenko) who rejects her affections. Pride and jealousy lead to a confrontation between Onegin and his friend Lensky (Stephen Costello), who is in love with Tatyana’s sister Olga (Kai Rüütel), resulting in a fatal duel. Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music DirectorEmmanuel Villaume will lead The Dallas Opera Orchestra in this beautiful Israeli Opera production.

Performances will continue on October 30(m), November 2 and 5, 2016 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. All evening performances (other than the Opening Night of the Season) will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. A free, pre-performance lecture (“The Joy and RonaldMankoff Pre-Opera Talks”) will be conducted one hour prior to curtain at most performances.

The After Party offers a fun opportunity to mingle with the incredible performers of EugeneOnegin while enjoying the fabulous entertainment of the Hunter Sullivan Big Band. A very popular group in Dallas, it specializes in danceable Big Band classics. The fete also features delectable noshes, desserts, coffee and specialty cocktails by Wolfgang Puck Sweet & Savory.

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QUICK FACTS

2016-2017 FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHTPRESENTED BY THE DALLAS OPERAFIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and LuncheonNorthPark Center Presenting SponsorThursday, October 27, 201611:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Season subscriptions are on sale and prices start at $95 for all five opera productions. The benefits of becoming a Dallas Opera subscriber include substantial savings off single ticket prices, priority seating, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchanges and invitations to special events. For more information, please contact the friendly staff in The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214-443-1000 or visit us online at www.dallasopera.org.

The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.

“Classic Cafe” recently featured General Director and CEO Keith Cerny who shared fascinating highlights about our 2016-2017 Season! Take a listen to WRR 101.1 Radio Host Nancy Brunson who interviews Keith and plays wonderful excerpts from the operas we are presenting.

Our 60th Season will get off to a fabulous start Thursday, October 27, 2016 with FIRST SIGHT FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON, NorthPark Center, Presenting Sponsor. Fashionistas will be treated to a spectacular runway show at the Winspear Opera House featuring memorable designs from Italian luxury brand Versace .

DALLAS, July 7, 2016 – In what promises to be the scintillating high point of the arts and social season, The Dallas Opera celebrates the start of its 2016-2017 Season with international couture and culture. All eyes will focus on FIRST SIGHT FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON, the official kick-off of the company’s 60th Season.

A runway stage in TheC. Vincent ProthroLobby in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House will be graced by designs from one of the world’s leading international fashion brands, Versace. The symbol of Italian style worldwide, Versace has a boutique at NorthPark Center, Presenting Sponsor of FIRST SIGHT. The enchanting event is chaired by well-known philanthropists Ellen and Don Winspear with Honorary chairs Joyce and Harvey Mitchell, and Luncheon Chairs Tiffany Divis, Kara Goss and Rhonda Marcus.

FIRST SIGHT FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON will be held Thursday, October 27, 2016, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Coordinated by the crème-de-la-crème of Dallas fashion show producers, RSC Productions will present dozens of the most memorable Versace pieces. Delightful cuisine master Wolfgang Puck will cater, offering creative culinary pleasures. Tables start at $5,000 and individual tickets are $300. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.dallasopera.org/firstsight.

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Versace, founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace, is one of the leading international fashion design houses and symbol of Italian luxury worldwide. The brand, now spearheaded by creative director Donatella Versace, offers ready to wear, couture, accessories, jewelry and fragrances, all bearing the iconic and distinctive Medusa logo. NorthPark Center is proud to house the only Versace boutique in North Texas.

“We are delighted to coordinate this event once again and are honored to work for such an amazing team at The Dallas Opera,” said Rhonda Sargent Chambers, RSC Show Productions. “The Dallas Opera provides an experiential event with a seasoned blend of entertainment, arts and fashion for the FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon. How thrilling when an artistic community offers so many genres of incredible talent. Beyond thrilled to have NorthPark Center featuring Versace this year for FIRST SIGHT! A power design house to impact our cognitive senses…this fashion extravaganza will be like no other!”

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The Winspear Opera house is located at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX, 75201.

Season subscriptions are on sale and prices start at $95 for all five opera productions. The benefits of becoming a Dallas Opera subscriber include substantial savings off single ticket prices, priority seating, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchanges and invitations to special events. For more information, please contact the friendly staff in The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214-443-1000 or visit us online at www.dallasopera.org.

The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is located in the heart of the Arts District at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.

It’s almost here! Single tickets for our dazzling “60th” Season go on sale this Monday!

With a fabulous variety of productions offered, including our acclaimed production of Moby-Dick, there is something for everyone to love! Tickets start at only $19 for what many believe is the ultimate art form! And they are easy to purchase; simply visit www.dallasopera.org, or call our friendly ticket office at 214-443-1000. But wait until July 11, 10:00 a.m.!

THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO OFFER SINGLE TICKETS FOR TDO’S 60TH SEASON ON SALE

Monday, July 11, 2016 at 10 a.m.214-443-1000 or www.dallasopera.org

~~~~ Single Tickets for 2016-17 Season Start at $19 ~~~~ Family Performance Singles, $5 Apiece

DALLAS, JUNE 28, 2016 – The Dallas Opera is pleased to announce that single tickets for its eagerly-anticipated 2016-2017 “60th” Season and popular Family Performances Series will go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

The upcoming season features both fully-staged operas and concert performances. These include classic productions of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Oneginfrom the Israeli Opera Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and Puccini’s Madame Butterfly—in a production new to Dallas—designed by Michael Yeargan for San Francisco Opera.

The 2016-17 Season also marks the return of the hugely successful 2010 Dallas Opera world premiere, Moby-Dick by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer; as well as TDO’s first-ever productions of Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw (a Jonathan Kent production from Glyndebourne Opera) and Vincenzo Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece, Norma.

The Dallas Opera will also present a special, one-night-only concert event: Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer’sEverest—Friday, May 5, 2017—with stars from the original cast and video projections designed by Elaine J. McCarthy.

Single tickets start at the low price of $19 and may be purchased, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org or by calling our friendly Ticket Office professionals at 214-443-1000 (during regular business hours).

Each opera features some of the greatest music of all time, captivating sets and costumes, orchestra, chorus, technological embellishments and world-class performers! All Dallas Opera productions display English translations projected above the stage enabling patrons to easily follow the action.

Mainstage performances take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora Street, in the Dallas Arts District.

Ticket buyers may also take advantage of substantial savings off the regular ticket price and other benefits by subscribing. Full subscriptions (five productions) begin at the incredibly low price of just $95; Flex subscriptions (three productions) start at just $75. Four opera packages are also available upon request. Benefits include optimal seat selection, ticket exchange privileges, discounted parking, free ticket replacement, payment plans, invitations to exclusive events and promotions.

• MOBY-DICK by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer is back by popular demand after its highly successful Dallas Opera world premiere in 2010! The seafaring drama, based on the novel by Herman Melville, stars tenor Jay Hunter Morris as Captain Ahab—a man obsessed with capturing the great, white whale. Stephen Costello reprises his role as Greenhorn, and Morgan Smith returns as Starbuck. Conducted by Music Director Emmanuel Villaume and staged by Director Leonard Foglia, one of the creators of this production. (Nov. 4, 6(m), 9, 12, 18 and 20(m), 2016)

• THE TURN OF THE SCREW is composer Benjamin Britten’s atmospheric work based on the novella by Henry James. A Governess is tormented by strange visions and stranger suspicions while caring for two mysterious children. British soprano Emma Bell stars as the Governess, tenor William Burden sings the dual roles of the Prologue and Peter Quint, and dramatic mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick makes her long-awaited TDO debut as Mrs. Grose. This 20th century masterpiece will be conducted by Nicole Paiement, the Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor and directed by Francesca Gilpin in her company debut. (Mar. 17, 19(m), 22, 25, 2017)

• NORMA is a bel canto gem by Vincenzo Bellini set in Roman Gaul. South African soprano Elza van den Heever returns in the title role of the betrayed priestess, Yonghoon Lee is her lover Pollione, Australian soprano Nicole Car, another Dallas Opera favorite, portrays the young rival, Adalgisa. Music Director Emmanuel Villaume conducts this passionate score staged by director Nic Muni. (Apr. 21, 23(m), 26, 29 & May 7(m), 2017)

• EVEREST in Concert is a revival of the 2015 Dallas Opera world premiere—in concert form—by composer Joby Talbot and librettist Gene Scheer. This critically acclaimed new opera depicts two days in 1996 that ended in a tragic loss of life on Mount Everest. Conducted by Music Director Emmanuel Villaume and staged by Director Leonard Foglia, this one-night-only special event also features video projections by Elaine J. McCarthy. Returning original cast members include tenor Andrew Bidlack as Rob Hall, bass-baritone Kevin Burdette as Beck Weathers, and Julia Rose Arduino as Meg Weathers. (May 5, 2017)

“Our 60th Season offers something for everyone! We believe audiences will be captivated by the spectacular music, intriguing storylines and unique settings of these five operas. As always, we have cast world-class artists in principal roles—as well as engaging conductors, directors and designers of the highest caliber,” notes Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO. “While we believe this music is some of the greatest ever written, opera is a tremendous form of entertainment that delights the eye and mind, as well as the ear. We hope everyone in North Texas will wish to take advantage of our magnificent offerings this season!”

Tchaikovsky’s EUGENE ONEGIN kicks off the season with a bittersweet story about love, pride and regrets. Set in 19th century Russia, a naïve young country girl Tatyana, becomes smitten with an aristocrat, Onegin. Tatyana (soprano Svetlana Aksenova) confesses her love in a letter to the arrogant Onegin (baritone Andrei Bondarenko) who rejects her affections. Pride and jealousy lead to a confrontation between Onegin and his friend Lensky (Stephen Costello), who is in love with Tatyana’s sister Olga (Kai Rüütel), resulting in a fatal duel. Internationally acclaimed conductor Emmanuel Villaume will lead The Dallas Opera Orchestra in this beautiful Israeli Opera production directed by the renowned Jean-Claude Auvray in his company debut.

MOBY-DICK, a Dallas Opera world premiere, has been met with thunderous applause and both popular and critical acclaim in six years of traveling the globe. Composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer based their riveting new opera on the epic novel by Herman Melville. Moby-Dick explores the danger, tensions, and exhilaration of life aboard the Pequod, a 19th century whaling vessel, as it spins the tale of a sea captain (Jay Hunter Morris as Captain Ahab) determined to be avenged on Moby-Dick after the great white whale took his leg and his ship on a previous voyage. Dallas favorite Stephen Costello reprises his role as Greenhorn, and Morgan Smith returns as the voice of reason, Starbuck. Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume conducts this eagerly-anticipated revival, directed by Leonard Foglia.

MADAME BUTTERFLY is the perfect introduction to the art form. This classic, turn-of-the-century Italian opera, with unforgettable melodies by Giacomo Puccini, is loosely based on true events in Nagasaki, Japan. A trusting young Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San (nicknamed Butterfly) portrayed by Hui He, marries a callous American naval officer, Lt. B.F. Pinkerton (Gianluca Terranova). She is deeply in love and committed for life, while the groom intended only a “marriage of convenience.” Even as Butterfly bears his son and remains blindly devoted to the officer who has abandoned her, Pinkerton commits an even more shocking betrayal. Renowned Italian conductor Donato Renzetti conducts this quintessential production staged by esteemed British director John Copley.

Based on the ghostly novella by Henry James, THE TURN OF THE SCREW is the dark and gripping story of a Governess (Emma Bell) who takes a new position caring for two mysterious children on a remote English country estate. After seeing what she believes is a ghost (William Burden in the dual roles of the Prologue and Quint) and witnessing the children’s bizarre and troubling behavior, the Governess must decide whether to stay and fight the forces of darkness. Martha R. and Preston Peak Principal Guest Conductor Nicole Paiement conducts English composer Benjamin Britten’s enthralling 20th century score which uses a haunting twelve-note “Screw” theme, mixing tonality and dissonance. In a much-awaited debut, Dolora Zajick, portrays the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose. Francesca Gilpin directs the Jonathan Kent production from Glyndebourne in this, her Dallas Opera debut.

NORMA is a grand, mid-19th century period piece that centers on a high priestess who is betrayed by her lover, who fathered their two children. Set during the Roman occupation of Gaul in 50 B. C., a passionate love triangle threatens to turn deadly after Norma discovers Pollione, (Yonghoon Lee) has fallen for a young priestess, Adalgisa (Nicole Car). Amidst the turmoil of the occupation and impending revolution, Norma is driven to despair and the brink of insanity—the consequences of which could prove fatal. Emmanuel Villaume leads The Dallas Opera Orchestra in one of Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini’s most magnificent operas, known for its ornate bel canto score. Nic Muni directs this dramatic production designed by John Conklin.

“The Dallas Opera is presenting a fantastic array of programming this season at affordable prices. Our tickets start at only $19, yet audience members will get to enjoy unforgettable music and drama, renowned singers, superb sets and costumes, exciting technological elements, The Dallas Opera Orchestra and Chorus and much more! It’s a tremendous entertainment value!” adds Dallas Opera Marketing Director Carrie Ellen Adamian.

Principal Singers making highly-anticipated Dallas Opera debuts this season include:

• Svetlana Aksenova, soprano, stars as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin. “The care with the interpretation of the text, from which you can extract contrasting and rare beauty effects, was the mark of…(Tatyana) Svetlana Aksenova.” (Estadao) • Musa Ngqungwana, bass, debuts as Zaretski in Eugene Onegin. Mr. Ngqungwana “…impressed with a rich, glowing voice and elegant legato…” (The New York Times) • Kai Rüütel, mezzo-soprano, makes her TDO debut as Olga in Eugene Onegin. According to Seen and Heard International, the statuesque Rüütel performed with “warmth, dramatic conviction and a pleasing hint of sensuality.” • Jacqueline Echols, soprano, portrays the pants role Pip in Moby-Dick. “Jacqueline Echols’ Pip soared gracefully over Heggie’s orchestra, soloists and chorus for most of the first act.” (Opera Today) • Hui He, soprano, makes her TDO debut as Butterfly/Cio-Cio-San in Madame Butterfly. “The debut of Hui He in the role of Butterfly was sensational…her big voice, her wonderful technique and her marvelous timbre…a deep and emotional interpretation. The best Butterfly that you can wish,” (Wiener Zeitung, Austria). • Gianluca Terranova, tenor, appears as Lt. B.F. Pinkerton, in Madame Butterfly. His “youthful, heroic and clear voice perfectly suggests the poetic, dreamy nature of the character…but it can also just as beautifully convey the later anguish and troubled self-awareness…” (Atlanta Journal Constitution) • Lucas Meachem, baritone, portrays Sharpless in Butterfly. “A natural on stage, he…dazzled the audience with the power and beauty of his voice,” (Broadway World). • Emma Bell, soprano, stars as the Governess in The Turn of the Screw. “Emma Bell…by vocal and dramatic means brought the character to frightening life,” (Opera) • Dolora Zajick, soprano, portrays Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw. “Zajick’s voice, acting, and sheer presence carry the audience to a higher level of emotional truth than anything in the show.” (DC Theatre Scene) • Ashley Emerson, soprano, performs the role of the child Flora in The Turn of the Screw. “…Ashley Emerson was eerily child-like. Her voice was very pretty, flexible, and youthful.” (The Opera Tattler) • Yonghoon Lee, tenor, stars in Norma as Pollione, Norma’s lover and father of her children. “Yonghoon Lee gave a full-blooded, dramatically intense and vocally elegant performance…” (The New York Times)

Many internationally acclaimed artists will be returning to The Dallas Opera:

• Andrei Bondarenko, baritone, stars in the title role of Eugene Onegin. “Andrei Bondarenko is perfect for the role of Onegin…with such allure as to make clear why such a ripe and ready girl as Tatyana would fall so helplessly in love.” (MusicOMH) • Stephen Costello, tenor, begins the season portraying the role of Onegin’s friend Lensky and then reprises the role of Greenhorn that he successfully created for Moby-Dick. “Tenor Stephen Costello was a bright-toned and sympathetic Greenhorn…” (San Francisco Chronicle) • Jay Hunter Morris stars as Captain Ahab, which has become a signature role for the Texas native. “…he sang with a pressurized fury that practically shook the seats…of the Opera House.” (San Jose Mercury News) • Manuela Custer, Italian mezzo-soprano, performs the role of Butterfly’s confidante, Suzuki. “This role is more than the usual comprimario…Custer sang (her aria) with huge aplomb and brought the house down with it.” Ian Graham regarding her role as Emma in Zelmira. • William Burden, grammy-award winning tenor, sings the dual roles of Prologue and Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw. His “subdued emotional intensity permeates every line of Mr. Burden’s elegant singing.” (The New York Times) • Elza van den Heever, South African soprano, stars in the title role of Norma. “…her voice takes wings and slowly soars with indelible beauty. It’s like a white dove slowly opening its wings and rising towards the sky.” (BachTrack) • Nicole Car, Australian soprano, portrays Adalgisa “the other woman” in Norma. A review of that role for Victorian Opera stated “Nicole Car was without doubt the star of the show. Her voice is at once rich, sweet, crystalline, moving, focused, and her onstage presence superb.” (Limelight Magazine) ~~~~

The Dallas Opera’s 2016-2017 Family Performance Series offers three wonderful productions that will delight the young as well as the young at heart! Each is performed by professional singers in the spectacular Winspear Opera House. The lobby opens at 12:30 p.m. with a variety of hands-on activities for the children. Single tickets are just $5 each and may be purchased at the door, by calling our friendly Ticket Office at 214-443-1000 or online at www.dallasopera.org/family. The subscription price for the three Family Performances is $12.

The Dallas Opera Family Performance Series is proudly presented by Texas Instruments, and made possible with additional generous support from the Betty and Steve Suellentrop Educational Outreach Fund and Lockheed Martin.

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS -- Based on scenes and music from operas by W.A. Mozart, this production is an operatic version of the beloved children’s fairy tale, with adaptations by John Davies. As constructive as it is instructive! Performances at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 23, 2016 and Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Winspear Opera House.

BASTIEN AND BASTIENNE -- One of Mozart’s earliest works, written at age twelve, Bastien and Bastienne is a one-act comic opera that tells the tale of a pretty young shepherdess, Bastienne, and her boyfriend, Bastien. Bastienne believes her beau has fallen in love with a wealthy girl from the big city. The heart-broken girl encounters Colas, the town “magician,” who has a few ideas of his own on how to reunite the young couple. Performances at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 19, 2016 and Saturday, April 22, 2017.

TDO Family Performances are a part of the Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs ~~~~

EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “FALL 2016 AT THE DALLAS OPERA” IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7 VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS

Ticket Information for the 2016-2017 Dallas Opera Season All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise described. Single Tickets range from $19 to $275 and will be available July 11, 2016. Full and Flex Subscriptions are on sale now starting at $75. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

THE DALLAS OPERA 2016-2017 FALL SEASON INFORMATION The Dallas Opera celebrates its Sixtieth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired. The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain, at most performances excluding FIRST NIGHT of the season.

DALLAS, JUNE 20, 2016 – The Dallas Opera is proud to announce the names of the six distinguished professionals selected to participate in the second annual session of the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera taking place November 26 -- December 11, 2016 in Dallas, Texas:

Elizabeth Askren (USA)

Mihaela Cesa-Goje (Romania)

Alexandra Cravero (France)

Tianyi Lu (New Zealand)

Chaowen Ting (USA/Taiwan)

Zoe Zeniodi (Greece)

Working to address a long-standing career issue in the opera world, The Dallas Opera in 2015 launched a unique, new residential program—one of only three in the world—designed to provide training and career support for distinctively talented women conductors. Female conductors, as well as accomplished women singers, opera coaches, accompanists, and instrumentalists with established careers seeking to develop new skills at the podium, were encouraged to apply.

A total of 156 women conductors and professional musicians heeded the call and applied by the April 22nd deadline. Of that number, approximately one-third of the IWC applicants (59) came from the United States.

Applicants from these 31 countries included music directors, principal and assistant conductors, concertmasters and music staff from top-ranked symphonies, opera companies, and conservatories.

As is the case each year, four U.S. observers were chosen to “audit” the 2016 Institute: Ching-Chun Lai, Michelle Rofrano, Carolyn Watson and Parisa Zaeri.

The institute had key, foundational support from the Richard and Enika Schulze Foundation. Naming support came through the generosity of Linda and Mitch Hart. Additional vital support comes from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Baker Botts LLP, Susan and Mark Geyer, Holly and Tom Mayer, Martha and Max Wells, and the TACA Bowden & Embrey Family Foundations Artist Residency Fund.

The institute will include career advancement seminars with experienced professionals like Alec Treuhaft, former senior vice-president of IMG Artists; industry discussions; intensive one-on-ones and networking opportunities; as well as the chance to conduct The Dallas Opera Orchestra in two public concerts on the evenings of December 4th and December 10th(additional details to be announced at a later time).

As part of TDO’s 5-year commitment to each institute “class” of conductors, alumnae will be invited to summer reunions for additional masterclasses with piano and singers, and a series of introductory seminars about the business of music: General Management, Marketing and Communications, Development and Finance. In our inaugural program last December and the first round of follow-up discussions this spring, the 2015 class of conductors reiterated their interest in this type of training on multiple occasions.

Keith Cerny, The Dallas Opera’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO notes: “The Dallas Opera has demonstrated, in multiple ways, its commitment to reshaping the opera field through the use of innovative public outreach, by exploring new technologies, commissioning new works to expand the operatic repertoire, and programming with passion and imagination.”

“This much-needed program,” Mr. Cerny added, “will enable more women conductors to add their talents and perspectives to our collective understanding of this art form, while encouraging conversation about the necessity of women in leadership roles.”

The Dallas Opera’s Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor,Nicole Paiement, who also serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor for San Francisco’s renowned contemporary opera company, Opera Parallèle, commented, “In tandem with my work as a professional conductor, I have spent many years striving to develop and support exceptional young talent, both onstage and in the orchestra pit. I am tremendously pleased to be able to continue this aspect of my career in a leadership role here in Dallas and I sincerely hope my work with the women in this institute can serve as a source of both valuable insights and inspiration.”

Nicole Paiement’s residency for the institute is supported by the TACA Bowden & Embrey Family Foundations Artist Residency Fund.

Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America, earlier remarked: “The Dallas Opera continues to expand its influence and stature among American opera companies, as shown by this exciting new initiative. The company is to be applauded for taking a significant step to remedy the existing gender imbalance on the podium. This effort complements OPERA America’s support of the work of female opera composers and promises to enrich the art form by encouraging more gifted artists to express themselves through opera.”

2016 IWC FELLOWS:

ELIZABETH ASKREN (USA)

Elizabeth Askren has worked as Assistant Music Director in leading European venues (Théâtre des Champs Elysées, The Concertgebouw, etc.) and has guest conducted orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Débuts for the 2015-16 season include concerts with the Romanian National Opera in Cluj and the Opera Orchestra of Toulon. Ms. Askren is a laureate of France’s ADAMI, and has received fellowships from the Salzburg Mozarteum, the Royaumont Foundation, and the Aldeburgh Festival. A finalist candidate for the Mahler Competition, she was invited by Lorin Maazel as “Apprentice Conductor” for the inaugural season of the Castleton Festival in Virginia. She is the subject of several radio and press interviews, and is currently a Young Leader of the French American Foundation. Ms. Askren holds diplomas in piano and conducting from the Juilliard School, Oberlin Conservatory, and the Conducting Institute of Bard in the United States, and the Schola Cantorum and the Ecole Normale de Musique in France.

MIHAELA CESA-GOJE (ROMANIA)

Mihaela Cesa-Goje gained widespread attention in 2009 as the winner of the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship founded by Marin Alsop and in 2010, a Conducting Grant from the League of American Orchestras. In 2011, she was awarded the Dudamel Fellowship from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and later that same year, was selected from a field of 160 candidates for a masterclass with Bernard Haitink and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Earlier in her career, Ms. Cesa-Goje received the “Sandor Vegh Prize” from the Romanian Mozart Society for an outstanding performance of Mozart’s “Der Schauspiele Direktor” at the Cluj National Opera, Romania. In 2005, she completed her Conducting Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music in London and was awarded the Irene Burcher Prize. In 2013, she earned a graduate degree in conducting from Gh Dima Music Academy in Cluj, Romania, where she studied with Florentin Mihaescu. She also studied with Harold Farberman, Gustav Meier, Patrick Russill and Roland Börger. Ms. Cesa-Goje is regularly invited to Cluj National Opera. In her first season (2014) she conducted eight different titles.

ALEXANDRA CRAVERO (FRANCE)

As a musician of many talents with a charismatic personality and artistic sensibility, Alexandra Cravero has quickly earned the reputation of being one of this generation’s conductors to watch. With a National Diploma and Masters in viola and conducting from the National French Conservatory, Alexandra was also finalist at the Besancon, Pedrotti, and Cadaques competitions. She has assisted Pierre Boulez, Kurt Masur, Tito Ceccherini, Patrick Davin and directed the BBC, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic, the Sofia Radio, the Theatre de La Monnaie and the Opera National du Rhin Orchestras. On the operatic stage, she has directed, among others, Annick Massis, Michael Spyres, Magdalena Kožená, and Etienne Dupuis. Her vast operatic repertoire spans many centuries: Carmen, The Pearl Fishers, Norma, Faust, Porgy and Bess, The Cunning LittleVixen, Reigen, and Doctor Atomic, to name a few. Upcoming engagements will see Alexandra Cravero direct The Tales of Hoffmann, Tosca, La traviata, and the Orchestre National de Lille at the Paris Philharmonic Hall.

TIANYI LU (NEW ZEALAND)

Now based in the United Kingdom, Tianyi Lu is the Junior Fellow in Conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Music Director Designate of the Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra. She has been assistant conductor to Thomas Søndergård with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Sir Mark Elder with the Hallé, Alice Farnham with the Welsh National Youth Opera and Carlo Rizzi at the RWMCD. She is regularly engaged by orchestras throughout Wales and New Zealand and was Music Director of The Magic Flute with Opera Otago. Ms. Lu has studied with David Jones, John Hopkins and Uwe Grodd and has attended masterclasses with Bernard Haitink, Neemi Järvi, Sian Edwards, Alexander Polynichko, Marin Alsop and Kenneth Kiesler. She was voted as a finalist at the twelfth ‘Interaktion’ conducting workshop by players of the Berlin Philharmonic and professional players in Germany.

CHAOWEN TING (USA)

Winner of the 2009 International Conductors’ Workshop and Competition, Chaowen Ting currently serves as Conductor of the Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra. A protégé of Bernard Haitink, Ting studied with the maestro at Lucerne Festival and was later invited by Haitink to observe his work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Outside of the U.S., she has conducted the Lucerne Festival Strings (Switzerland), Mihail Jora Bac?u Philharmonic (Romania), Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra (Croatia), St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic (Russia), and Orquesta Filarmónica de Honduras (Honduras). She won the 2013 Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship and was a Conducting Fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. In addition to her symphonic repertoire, opera productions she directed received honors from National Opera Association’s Opera Production Competitions for two consecutive years.

ZOE ZENIODI(GREECE)

Zoe Zeniodi has conducted productions at the Florida Grand Opera, Greek National Opera, the Onassis Cultural Center and guest conducted all the major Greek orchestras as well as Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, the Brno Philharmonic, Palm Beach Symphony, New Florida Philhamornic, and JONDE, among others. She is currently the Music Director of Broward Symphony Orchestra, Momentum Athens Chamber Orchestra and the Associate Music Director of the Festival of the Aegean. Previous positions include: Chief Conductor of MOYSA, Assistant/Cover Conductor for Florida Grand Opera, Music Director of Alhambra Orchestra and Associate Conductor of Frost Symphony Orchestra. She has released five CD recordings of contemporary music. Ms. Zeniodi holds a DMA in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Miami and also studied at the Royal College of Music and the Mozarteum, Salzburg.

Ching-Chun Lai, Director of Orchestras at the Crane School of Music, SUNY-Potsdam, has worked on opera productions of Pelléas et Mélisande, Don Pasquale, L’elisir d’amore,Maria Stuarda, Alcina, Thaïs, and The Turn of the Screw. Her performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion were described in Isthmus as “consistently excellent.” During her tenure, the Crane Symphony Orchestra has performed in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Recent engagements include the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and its youth orchestra. Dr. Lai studied conducting with Gunther Schuller and James Smith. Additional studies include Gstaad Menuhin Festival and Academy, Gustav Meier, and JoAnn Falletta. She received her DMA degree from UW-Madison, where she received the Church Memorial Conducting Award, and earned her Master’s degree with Distinguish Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.

MICHELLE ROFRANO (USA)

Michelle Rofrano recently completed her master’s degree in conducting at the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Marin Alsop, Gustav Meier, and Markand Thakar. She will serve as assistant conductor for the upcoming Oberlin in Italy 2016 summer festival. Ms. Rofrano recently led a production of Così fan tutte with D.C. Public opera, and she was the assistant conductor for Baltimore-based new music ensemble Symphony Number One during its 2015-16 Season. Previous engagements include serving as cover conductor for productions with Lyric Opera Baltimore and Opera Birmingham, performances with the Opera Project of New Jersey and Rutgers Symphony Orchestra, and masterclasses with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Rofrano holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Rutgers University.

CAROLYN WATSON (USA)

Conductor Carolyn Watson is Director of Orchestral Studies at Texas State University. From 2013-2015 she held the position of Conductor of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. A Fellow of the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival, Ms. Watson was a major prizewinner at the 2012 Emmerich Kálmán International Operetta Conducting Competition in Budapest. She has participated in master classes with Peter Eötvös, Yoel Levi and Alex Polishchuk and conducted musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic in Interaktion. Ms. Watson is the recipient of the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors, the Charles Mackerras Conducting Prize and Opera Foundation Australia’s Bayreuth Opera Award. She holds a PhD in Performance (Conducting) from the University of Sydney where her doctoral thesis was Gesture as Communication: The Art of Carlos Kleiber. www.carolyn-watson.com.

PARISA ZAERI (USA)

A native of Dallas, Texas, Parisa Zaeri maintains an active career as a conductor, collaborative pianist, and vocal coach. Her recent musical engagements include serving as Music Director for Boulder Opera’s upcoming production of Carmen (Fall 2016), as Cover Conductor for the American premiere of Philip Glass’s Witches of Venice at Opera Saratoga (Summer 2016), and as Assistant Conductor for the recent Southern Methodist University production of Die Zauberflöte (Spring 2016). Notable mentors include Paul Phillips and Grant Wenaus. Ms. Zaeri graduated with her Master’s degree in Piano Performance -- Collaborative Piano from New York University in May 2015 and currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and two dogs.

Ticket Information for the 2016-2017 Dallas Opera Season

All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise indicated. Single Tickets range from $19 to $275. Full Subscriptions start at $95, Flex Subscriptions (three-performances of your choice) begin at $75. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

THE DALLAS OPERA 2016-2017 FALL SEASON INFORMATION The Dallas Opera celebrates its Sixtieth Year in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English language translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired. The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain at most performances, excluding FIRST NIGHT of the season.

The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Texas Instruments Foundation, TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.

Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato as opera star Arden Scott in The Dallas Opera’s October 2015 world premiere production of “Great Scott” by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally. Photo by Karen Almond for The Dallas Opera

HONORED AS THE 2016 “MARIA CALLAS DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR” ~~~~ SUPERSTAR ENCHANTED NORTH TEXAS AUDIENCES IN THE 2015 WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF JAKE HEGGIE AND TERRENCE MCNALLY’S GREAT SCOTT

DALLAS, JUNE 16, 2016 – The Dallas Opera is delighted to announce the winner of the 2016 “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” Award: transcendent American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. This prestigious award, named after one of the most renowned opera artists of the 20th century, is given to a single performer each season in recognition of a particularly memorable and outstanding company debut. The winner was announced earlier this evening at the annual Dallas Opera Board and Trustee Appreciation Dinner held in the Crescent Ballroom of the Rosewood Crescent Hotel. One of the world’s reigning mezzo-sopranos, Ms. DiDonato has traveled far from her native Prairie Village, Kansas, to becoming a Grammy Award-winning international artist treasured for her incandescent stage presence and acting skills, as well as her one-of-a-kind lyric coloratura described as “perfect for bel canto” (renowned musicologist Philip Gossett, quoted in The New Yorker, October, 2013). The role of American opera singer Arden Scott, the central character in Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s Great Scott which premiered in Dallas in October of 2015, was created by Joyce DiDonato. The critics responded with unrestrained enthusiasm: “DiDonato was a wonder,” wrote Jason Victor Serinus for Classical Voice North America. “With every technical effect perfectly executed, she proved herself once again a star.” Dallas Morning News critic Scott Cantrell noted that “DiDonato, displaying her renowned virtuosity in coloratura excerpts, is deeply engaging” while Ian MacKenzie of Opera Today praised the mezzo for singing “like an angel.” Senior critic Gregory Sullivan Isaacs of Theater Jones had particular praise for Ms. DiDonato’s approach to her character: “She plays her with a very un-diva-like simplicity; the local girl who made good, who feels the pressure of impending time and voracious young replacements.”

“It’s a tremendous thrill to learn that our patrons have decided to honor Joyce for her starring role in one of the most important North American premieres of the 2015-16 Season,” notes Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. “Great Scott was designed to showcase her extraordinary artistry—and indeed it does—yet audiences were just as touched by Joyce’s incredible humanity. She imbued her character Arden Scott with life, breath, and a true and generous heart. When Arden ultimately found the courage to accept new professional challenges and a second chance at love, audiences wanted to stand up and cheer! “We are deeply indebted to Joyce for her brilliant work throughout the world premiere production of Great Scott. Nothing would please me more than to have the opportunity to bring her back to the Winspear for more extraordinary performances.”

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The voting for the Callas Award was conducted entirely online by electronic ballot and was open to season subscribers only. The results were verified by the independent accounting firm of Travis, Wolff & Company, L.L.P. The winner will receive a beautiful etched-crystal plaque created by award-winning designers from Tiffany & Co. for The Dallas Opera. The plaque bears the likeness of The Dallas Opera’s unofficial Godmother, Greek soprano Maria Callas. “La Divina” launched The Dallas Opera with a 1957 recital at the Music Hall in Fair Park and continued to grace TDO’s stage in those early years with a series of now-legendary performances.

The 2016 recipient responded to the news, by email, with a statement read to the dinner guests this evening by The Dallas Opera’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO Keith Cerny:

“I am sincerely and deeply honored to receive the Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award from The Dallas Opera, for my role as Arden Scott in Jake Heggie’s world premiere, GREAT SCOTT. Of course it is the dream of any singer to be mentioned in the same breath as Maria Callas, so I will very proudly carry this mantle associated with so many of my dear colleagues from years past! But perhaps the most sublime part of this, is that the award comes from this incredible journey of a world premiere, which The Dallas Opera championed so beautifully, and one that celebrates our art form so victoriously. We created a glorious “GREAT SCOTT Family” within the beautiful “Dallas Opera Family,” and for this, I feel so very grateful. I’d like to imagine that Maria is smiling down on us all, proud for carrying on her philosophy of singing from a place of truth—for without any doubt, we all know how much she continues to matter! A million thanks for this most special award!” Joyce DiDonato ~~~~

“I am overjoyed that The Dallas Opera has decided to honor my dear friend and colleague Joyce DiDonato with the Maria Callas Award,” writes composer Jake Heggie. “Joyce is not only one of the world’s great opera stars with a talent that dazzles, inspires, moves and changes people forever—she is one of the brightest lights on the planet: a humanitarian driven by generosity, social justice, and an innate passion to connect. Like Callas, Joyce is definitive in every role she sings—allowing us to hear old and new works with fresh ears. She combines a flawless technique and sparkling vocal beauty with intelligence, integrity, authenticity, beauty and truth. “What an honor it was to create Great Scott for her at The Dallas Opera,” Heggie adds, “and, oh, how I look forward to how she will continue to awaken our hearts, minds and ears in the years to come as she blazes forward with bold choices and relentless curiosity. “Brava, dear Joyce!”

There were twenty-two additional 2015-2016 Season nominees for the Callas Award (artists making outstanding company debuts in a principal role)—listed below in alphabetical order:

The “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award” was launched during the 1991-1992 Dallas Opera Season. The first recipient was Sharon Sweet for her impressive performance in the title role of Aida. The list of subsequent winners reads like an opera’s “Who’s Who” from Susan Graham, Cecilia Bartoli, Mary Dunleavy, Elizabeth Futral, Hei-Kyung Hong, Denyce Graves, Indira Mahajan, Mary Mills, Patricia Racette, Latonia Moore, Christopher Ventris, Catherine Naglestad, James Valenti, and Ben Heppner, to Laura Claycomb, Myrtò Papatanasiu (Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata), mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard (Rosina in The Barber of Seville) and last year’s winner, Russian soprano Ekaterina Scherbachenko for the title role in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta.

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EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7. VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG

FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHS Contact Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and PR at suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org Or Celeste Hart, Communications Manager at celeste.hart@dallasopera.org

~~~~ The Dallas Opera Family Performances are generously supported by Texas Instruments and the Betty and Steve Suellentrop Educational Outreach Fund.

TDO Family Performances are a part of the Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs

Ticket Information for the 2016-2017 Dallas Opera Season All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise indicated. Single Tickets range from $19 to $275. Full Subscriptions start at $95, Flex Subscriptions (three-performances of your choice) begin at $75. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

THE DALLAS OPERA 2016-2017 FALL SEASON INFORMATION The Dallas Opera celebrates its Sixtieth Year in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English language translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired. The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain at most performances, excluding FIRST NIGHT of the season.

* Dallas Opera Debut ** American Debut ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Texas Instruments Foundation, TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.